Aussie Finch Forum

Males tend to have more red on the face than females, but this is a general guide as the most well marked hen and the worst marked cock could be identical.
Didn't know the Europeans had succeeded in breeding mutations, will have to Google that, you learn something new every day on this Forum.
LML

Try These -

http://www.cardellino.it/sitoweb/html/index44.htm

http://www.distelvinken.nl/foto's.html

There is one mutation that we have here, i think it is a cinamon.

Had seen the first site but not the 2nd. Thanks, there are a number of different types and I think it is only the "English" that we have here in Australia. Haven't seen any mutaions myself but that means little.
LML

Saw a clipping from a old birding newsletter that said Goldfinches in 1988 were $4 each

Trapped Birds Still sell for that price today.

More red in the face but it takes good eyes to tell ..I couldnt .
More trivia ...they are so hardy in southern areas of Australia they are considered vermon.
AND as far as personality goes , they make Zebs look like angels ...GREGARIOUS , ASSERTIVE , NOISY , GREEDY AND PUSHY but I never saw my pair attack or physically harm another bird , just carried on like pork chops most of the time .

While those I had were no different from the canarys. Yes a bit greedy, first to the greens and definately wanting there share. But not at all aggressive.
LML

[quoteSexing:
Hope someone can help to fill in this information, as I have no idea.

][/quote]

Well there are 3 thinks that can help you recognise the sex of these beautiful birds...First of all the mask ... For the males the mask goes back from there eyes but for females it stops before or sometimes on there eye.
Also you can recognise them from the top of the wing, on females the top has brown or grey colour expect the black , but on males black is the only colour.

I hope tha you can read my post(my english is aw>#$) and might help.I also post this picture from my personal almbum about the differences on these bird sexing .

Dont see a lot of goldfinches in pet shops lately , the demand it seems is for goldfinch x canarys .....just look like a big , fat and faded goldfinch to me .

Cock Goldfinches are much more desired as they have a full song variety and have brighter colours than hen.My opinion why they are not popular in pet shops is largely besause they are wild caught and they remain very frightfull for a long time.There is no box of seed you can buy for these birds as they need a variety of seeds as well as lots of greens.Two places I got my birds are BIRDWORLD 169 Abernethy Road Belmont Western Australia and from Adelaide, BIRD PLACE EMBLEM AVIARIES 95 Holbrooks Rd Flinders park.There is lots of sites or other forums that you can reasearch.I don't think I could own birds and not own the European Goldfinch.